Oregon Ducks head coach Mark Helfrich shouts directions to his team as they face the University of Washington at Husky Stadium. Bruce Ely / The Oregonian

A day after his No. 2 Oregon squad beat No. 20 Washington in Seattle to extend UO's winning streak in the rivalry to 10 years, Oregon coach Mark Helfrich spoke with the media. Here is what he said about that victory and leading into Saturday's game against Washington State.

It looked like a really physical game. What did you think about your team's response?

"It was definitely a physical game. I thought as the game wore on and something we talked about is it would come to our advantage to keep playing and stay in it and hopefully pull away toward the end. Wade Keliikipi really showed up big in that regard and kind of just kept bringing in it and kept bringing it and finally broke through and had at least one sack and a couple of big-time pressures. DeForest Buckner, same thing. I thought as a group our offensive line played their most intense, physical game of the year so that's a good thing."

Could you talk a little more about Wade?

"He's a stud. Wade is such a, he's just another one of the guys who's one of our best practice guys. He's had a couple of nicks and dings here and there but has refused to miss a rep of practice. Just such a big statement for our team, for our younger players to watch a guy like that. He drew a couple double teams and probably got held a few times and busted through a couple of those but just kept churning."

Mark you talked about high-anxiety situations in practices. How does a game like UW help your team?

"I think that's where hopefully you just trust your training and go back to, you know, make things as uncomfortable in practice but still have fun, still work hard, still compete and be tough and all those things that still need to show up in a game and I think those things all showed up in the third quarter and fourth quarter of that game."

Josh Huff said he was told not to play in the second half but talked his way back in after showing he could make cuts. How unique is that where a player can talk his way in?

"It depends on the nature of the injury. Obviously there are certain kinds of injuries where the sports medicine people are going to take their helmet and they make the decision and there's other types of injuries where the player has a little more say. This was one of those types of things. We certainly know if Josh has an option and a say he's going to do everything he can to get back in there."

Was that Alejandro Maldonado's turn in the kicking rotation on his field goal?

"He was the guy at that time and you know, he didn't hesitate. He's been doing a really nice job in practice and went out there and got us some big points right when we needed it."

Is it decision-making that you really like with Marcus Mariota?

"Pretty much, he had a couple, believe it or not Marcus can make a mistake. It's kind of like (UO football sports information chief) Dave Williford or Halley's comet, it doesn't happen very often. But no, he is playing at such a high level and a ton of that goes to the decision making and his quick release, his ability to put the ball right where it needs to be right when he wants it there is unique. And then, the other thing, the couple other things is we protected really well and made a bunch of great plays on the ball and whenever he was covered he really made them pay. When you can put those three things together usually you're going to end up on the right side of the ledger."

What about Bralon Addison has allowed this success?

"Bralon had a great fall camp, really really solid camp and he and coach Lubick really hit it off in developing him as a vertical threat and technician and at the same time he's a tough, tough guy in the Josh Huff kind of role. Those guys go back and forth with Keanon Lowe as playmakers, unbelievable practice players. Those guys run so much in practice and work so much in practice between special teams and offense, it is really, all those guys compete against each other and have fun and do great things."

What are your thoughts on Stanford losing. Does that change your mentality?

"It doesn't change our mentality at all. If anything if just reinforces the fact that you have to handle your business. You can't sit here, I guarantee everyone on this call had Georgia on their sheet in Sharpie and Stanford on their sheet in Sharpie and we don't get to re-do the sheet. We get to prepare to play our best regardless of who is playing and you cannot worry about anybody else but yourself."

Washington State has already won more games this year than last. Quick thoughts?

"I certainly watched the game last night up until the fake punt, I'm not sure what was going on with the punt execution and the turnovers, that was a dogfight. They're a lot better from the talent standpoint and scheme standpoint than what their numbers indicate on defense. Offensively you know what you're going to get from a tech standpoint with coach Leach. They've done a great job, forever, running their system and part of that is pressuring the quarterback, part of that is confusing with coverage, part of that is trying to get your hand in throwing lanes and create turnovers. But they present totally different yet huge challenges on both sides of the ball and they've done great job in their special teams and they have a coach we played against a couple years ago who really prepares their special team well. Again, it's a tremendous challenge every week."

Is it safe to say you're having fun right now or is it business every week?

"I think we're always going to have fun and is is it work is it tough is it a grind absolutely but when you're around the staff we're get the chance to be around every day and the players we get a chance to be around every day you can't help but enjoy it and just embrace the grind. We know we're going to get everybody's best shot and how that all happens but we're having a lot of fun and the biggest thing is our guys still have an ability and a desire to get better. that's rare and fun.